Medieval Papal Bull comes to UBC Library

The 770-year-old Papal Bull now housed in Rare Books and Special Collections was acquired last May from an antiquarian book seller in London, England. A papal bull is a letters patent or charter issued by the Pope and named for the seal (bulla) attached to the bottom.

The bull arrived at UBC Library in good condition but creased from being stored folded for centuries. UBC Library’s conservator, Anne Lama, used a humidification chamber to ease out the creases, spending over 24 hours straight working with the fragile document.

UBC Library invites the public to view the Papal Bull and other works from the middle ages in an exhibition this month.